It’s hard to pinpoint the fair freelance UX designer hourly rate, mainly because the industry is always changing. You might be surprised but UX design history goes a long way. It might not have been as popular back in the 90s as it is now but it doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.

User Experience or UX does not simply cover websites or computers, it’s pretty much every product that is designed for humans. So, the UX designer’s job is to find out how to relate products to customers. And from that alone, you know that UX design has a very wide scope making it harder to answer the question, “What’s a fair freelance UX designer hourly rate?”

Definitely, each UX designer has a different rate. Even UX designers who are employed by companies have varying salaries, so freelancers can definitely also have diverse rates.

Factors That Affect Freelance UX Designer Hourly Rate

To give you an easier time figuring out your own freelance UX designer hourly rate, below are factors that can affect the amount that you can charge:

1. UX Designer Role

First things first, what is your role exactly as a UX designer? In freelancing, you can be a jack-of-all-trades and do everything for UX design, but having a niche is advisable. Not only can it boost your freelancing career but you can also easily determine your freelance UX designer hourly rate. For example, if you are in charge of Wireframes it will definitely have a different rate if you are responsible for creating personas or conducting customer research.

If you are more of an all-in-one UX designer, then you can definitely ask for a higher payment from your potential clients. Since you are a one-stop shop, there will be no need for your clients to hire other UX designers and this can justify your fair rate.

2. Skill Level

Getting a fair rate will also depend on your skill level as a UX designer. If you have just started out in this career, of course, you can’t really charge very high. A good way that you can showcase your skill level is by showing your portfolio. There are also freelance platforms where you need to rate yourself. Just make sure you have the real skills to back up your own rating because potential clients will definitely ask you questions or even give you a test during your interview.

3. Experience

Remember that experience and skill are not the same but they do go hand in hand. Maybe you have excellent skills but you haven’t really worked with more than 2 clients. It’s also important to have relevant experience as this can really show potential clients what you can actually do for other people.

A portfolio that contains samples can definitely show your skills but if you show samples that you have done for other clients, this is a huge deal. It’s especially helpful if you have past clients that can give you referrals or ratings on your work. This can definitely kick up your rate as a UX designer.

When it comes to experience, you should also count the number of years you have been working in the industry. Highlight relevant experience and make sure to show that you keep up-to-date with the latest techniques in UX designing.

4. Clients

Sometimes, you don’t really have a say in your rate. There will be times when clients will dictate the freelance UX designer hourly rate and your only option here is to either accept the offer or not. Remember that not all clients are the same. Some can offer a very high rate but they can be very demanding.

There are also low-balling clients that would be better to say no to. The best type of client is the one who can offer you a fair rate and someone who you can collaborate with or work harmoniously with.

5. Educational Background or Training

As a freelancer, you don’t really need a diploma. But in the world of UX design, it can always help to show if you had formal training in Wireframes or User Testing. If you have certifications or have done bootcamp training in UX design, this can be what gives you an edge over other UX designers. It will only be fair to raise your freelance UX designer hourly rate especially if you are subscribed to a UX design certificate that has monthly payment.

Tips to Determine a Fair Hourly Rate for UX Design

Now that you know the factors that can affect your freelance UX designer hourly rate, it’s time to determine the exact number. Below are some tips that can help you out:

Ask around

One of the best things to do is to ask fellow freelancers how much their rates are. If you have former classmates, who would usually have the same skill set or level of experience as you, you can ask for the same rate as they are.

It also helps to check out freelance platforms and see how much gigs are paying. Learning the industry standards can be a helpful gauge to find out if you are charging way too high or if you are lowballing yourself.

Check competitors rates

Another way to find out your rate is to check out your competitors. If they are offering the same services as you are, you can always copy their number.

If you can’t find yourself lowering your rate, then simply add more services. You can also do helpful add-ons that can set you apart from your competitors. For example, offering free, extra revisions on your mock-ups can be very helpful.

Do the math

Another way that you can determine a fair freelance UX designer’s hourly rate is by doing the math. This is not really about your competitors or the industry standards. It boils down to you. Below are 2 questions you need to answer to help you determine your rate:

1. How fast do you work?

Since you are talking about an hourly rate, you need to time yourself. If you work way too fast, then you won’t be paid for all of your hard work—which can then lead to burnout. On the other hand, if you are too slow, clients may not like having to pay for your extra hours if someone can actually do the job faster.

What you can do is to time yourself on how you would normally work. You can make a rate depending on the specific job you are working on. For example, you can charge higher for making storyboards than when you are conducting competitor research. But again, this will depend on your expertise—the speed at which you work should be fair towards your rate.

2. How much money do you need to make a profit?

Freelancing is a business. You need to get paid to be able to keep your business afloat and you can do this by making a profit. You can also look at the money you earn from freelancing the way you would a salary. How much money should you be earning per hour so that you can maintain your lifestyle, to keep yourself from going broke?

You really need to do the math to find out the fair freelance UX designer hourly rate. Again, this is the rate that is fair for you. And not so much reliant on how much other freelance UX designers earn for themselves.

Conclusion

There is no single number or answer to the question, “What’s a fair freelance UX designer’s hourly rate?” You really have to combine all of the factors to get your number. If you find that your fellow bootcamp mates are charging higher, you don’t have to copy them if you are not 100% confident in your skills or if you are aware that you need more experience.

The best way to determine your freelance UX designer hourly rate is by putting yourself out there. Go get clients and do the work. You’ll have a better judgment of what is fair or not once you have a project.

Post written by:

kosmo on October 28, 2022

With the huge opportunities being brought about by social media platforms, many want to know how to start a social media marketing freelance business. Aside from the appealing work arrangement, it offers to marketing-savvy freelancers; the social media marketing trend has seen a rise in the past years. This has resulted in a drastic increase in demand for social media marketers. And yes, this is an easy income-generating gig, whether you go full-time or do it as a side job if you know the right direction to take.

The Global Social Media Trend

In July 2022, statistics show that 4.70 billion people are engaging in social media activities. Social media has become such a part of people’s lives that some consider it an addiction. Do you check your social media accounts the moment you wake up? Or find yourself feeling that your day is incomplete if you didn’t check at least one of your social media accounts? Some become so hooked that it has become a trend too that friends ban mobile phones during social gatherings like dinners.

Yes, social media has captured an audience so vast that businesses found this as an excellent platform for enhancing their businesses. You have seen, for sure, job placements, advertisements, corporate announcements, and other official statements being posted on social media.

Social media has definitely evolved from being a platform for connecting people and sharing stories to basically being a way of living. And this is not an exaggeration.

What is Social Media Marketing?

Simply put, social media marketing is the use of social media platforms for advertising, marketing, and other customer-centered business activities. Obviously seen as the best digital marketing tool of this generation, businesses maximize the efficiency of reach and connection of these social media platforms.

The ultimate goal of social media marketing is to, of course, drive sales. In creating a good social media marketing campaign, though, you must also think of the other benefits and advantages of these platforms. You can focus on building brand image or promoting brand loyalty. It may be as simple as making noise during a product launch to create awareness. This really depends on the business goal. But definitely, the main target is to get the business to increase its trading activities.

Fundamental Tasks of a Social Media Manager

If you are going to engage in a social media marketing business, you will be known as a Social Media Manager. As a social media manager, you will oversee the entire social media marketing campaign of your client. There are certain duties that you may be required to do for your client.

Strategy Creation

As a social media manager, you will need to be able to analyze the target market of your client. Remember, your goal is to capture the attention of your intended audience, meaning they have to stop scrolling the moment they see your post. So how are you going to achieve that?

Determine your market’s specific demographic, interests, language, and habits. For example, your target market is mothers. When do mothers usually check their social media? After their children left for school, maybe? There are studies released by social media platforms that show when the platforms are heavily active. So learn these data because you will need them.

You also have to know which social media platforms to utilize. For example, are mothers familiar with TikTok? Or do they use Instagram? It may not be wise to make your client spend so much on buying ad spaces on all platforms when you can already determine and recommend the ones most fitting to your market.

Keep in mind that your goal in creating your strategy is to convince the audience and turn them into paying customers.

Content Creation

This is the bulk of your work. Creating the content. You will design graphics, take relevant photographs, and even shoot short videos. For a more serious or formal client, you might need to post testimonials or short motivational speeches.

While these activities may be fun and exciting because of the creativity aspect, do not forget that it is still a business for your client. You have to anchor your content on the tone and look that will appeal most to your desired audience. If you are targeting teenagers, you have to use wisely the language with which they are familiar. You know very well that teens will not stop to look at your post if it is text-heavy, so you have to think of a creative way to capture their attention.

As a social media manager, you will be taking on the role of a graphic designer, copywriter, photographer, and videographer if need be. So you must know how to use these elements and when to use them best. Master how to make scroll-stopping, click-worthy content.

Just like how you deal with your own accounts, you need to be able to keep the client’s page updated and in with the crowd. Check the communities and trends. Know when you are getting a few views and visits so you can change your strategy. Remember, more clicks, more likes, and more views mean you are doing something right. Just be careful on sensitive matters that may be offensive to some.

This will not be a challenging task if you have a clear directive from your client on who their target market is. So, it is always a good practice to get all the details and vision from your client before you start working.

Monitoring and Reporting

Most clients will be expecting you to monitor their pages. This means checking for messages and comments and replying promptly. So polish your customer-relations skills as well. But remember, while it may seem that community page management obviously goes hand in hand with social media marketing, you do not necessarily need to do this task. It would be better to have a detailed scope of work with your client. Plus, you can actually charge additional for this service.

Of course, at the end of each agreed period, you will most probably be asked to report the impact of your campaign. Make sure you know how the analytics of each social media platform work; you will definitely need it.

How to Start a Social Media Marketing Freelance Business

Yes, it all sounds too easy, especially if you have a knack for developing creative and scroll-stopping posts. With fewer equipment investments, this could be a very profitable job. And now that you understand what your tasks will be once you start offering your services, it’s time to give you the best guides on how to start a social media marketing freelance business.

1. Go Deep on Social Media Knowledge

It is not enough that you know how to post on social media. You must have extensive knowledge of how to manipulate these platforms to your advantage.

First and foremost, it is best to master the top social networks. Now that you know that part of a good marketing strategy is understanding your audience, determine the best platforms to use for the specific demographic. While Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter may be the obvious choices, your particular market might also be actively heavy on other networks.

Learn the technical aspects of the social media platforms you’ll use. For some, different resolution specifications for visuals may change when viewed via mobile phones. Some have strict copyright terms, especially when using music. You do not want your post blocked or muted, right? Not only will your post look weak, but your client will complain about this.

Discover how the analytical tools work. This will help you manage the account better and see how you can improve. Keep in mind that the success of the campaign will translate to competence on your part, which could help you land more clients.

2. Train, Train, Train

Another great tip in exploring how to start a social media marketing freelance business is to have the relevant training you need to do the job efficiently. Look for online training programs on doing business on social media. Others even have certification courses for social media marketing. There are a lot, and some are even offered for free.

It would also help your business if you take short courses on basic graphic design, and maybe photography and videography. That way, you would know how to adjust your content to be best viewed on different platforms.

3. Get Your Office in Place

The best part about being a freelance social media manager is that you do not really need an actual office space to conduct your business. Set up a workstation in your house, and you are ready to go. What you would need, which is important in this job, is to have a complete set of devices. Having a desktop computer, a tablet, and a mobile device will be advantageous because you will get to see how your posts will look from all types of devices.

If you are pretty serious about your business, decide if you will want to register a business. In most cases, you would only need your tax identification number for income tax returns purposes. It would be wise to check with your local government if you need a business license.

4. Invest in the Right Tools

As a freelancer, you will be doing everything in your business. And this includes the admin duties and responsibilities. Not to worry, for as this may sound scary, it actually is not. There are a lot of online tools you can use to make admin duties easy.

Invest in a good project management tool like Kosmo. When using project management tools, you get to have access to features like time and income tracking, proposal and contract drafting, invoice generation, and payment tools. With a single software, you can do all these tasks, saving you time and energy.

Other online resources you can use are design tools for your social media cards, photo and video editing tools, and music composition tools.

5. Marketing Your Business

Now that you have basically established your business, it’s time to sell your service. Create a unique portfolio. If you do not have actual clients yet, look for startups or nonprofit organizations that may need your service. Start working on a project with them to kickstart your portfolio.

Have an amazing website and a much more impressive social media business account. Obviously, your own business pages on social media will set the standard for how well you can sell on social media. Be bold and brave. Explore your creativity and think about how you can stand out from the crowd.

Be smart when posting on job boards. Direct clients to links to your social media pages so they can see what you can actually do.

Prepare a rate card and have a good pricing scheme, such as offering packages and retainer agreements (this is where you can add your community management services). This will make transactions faster if the clients can already see your rates.

Use the knowledge and skills you have acquired from training and other courses to build up your own social media campaign first. It’s like your business is your first client!

Hello There, Social Media Manager

If you have the right strategies and tools for the trade becoming a social media manager is doable. What you have to put the most effort into is how to stand out from the competition. Because honestly, there are a lot of other freelance social media managers out there. The secret is knowing how to start a social media marketing freelance business, the smart way. And with the right creative and business strategy, you will definitely do well in this industry.

Post written by:

kosmo on October 22, 2022

Whether you’ve been freelancing for a long time or not, you might have already wondered, “is being a freelance artist worth it?”. Usually, this happens before you take the plunge or when you have already dipped your toe and find yourself lost as you can’t seem to book gigs or get clients. If this is happening to you, hang in there, but also you might need to change up the way you work, your rates or pricing, etc.

However, if you want an in-depth answer to the question, is being a freelance artist worth it? Hang tight as below you can read the pros and cons of being a freelance artist.

Pros and Cons of Being a Freelance Artist

There are many factors to consider to be able to answer, is being a freelance artist worth it. You can’t really have a direct answer because it will all depend on these factors. It’s important to note that there are some things that may be more important to you than other freelancers. But the point is, in the end, you will be the one weighing the scale to find out if it is worth being a freelancer.

1. Time

One of the best things about being a freelancer is time is pretty much in your hands. You don’t have a desk where you need to be chained for 9 hours. No boss will be tracking your productivity and you won’t have co-workers bothering you either. Now, this can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on you.

Pro: If you are an artist who does not want to be bound by time and extreme deadlines, then it’s definitely worth it to be a freelancer. You can pretty much set your own deadlines as long as you properly discuss them with your clients. Just imagine, if you aren’t feeling inspired or creative for the day, it’s your choice to just slack off or rest. You don’t have to force yourself to spew out creativity when you aren’t really feeling it.

Con: Now, if you are more of the type of worker who has trouble keeping up with schedules, the early stages of freelancing will be tough. You have no one but yourself to rely on. There’s no HR who will tell you, you’re late. Instead, you’ll have a client who can easily walk out on you and leave you a bad review. Don’t worry though as freelance time tracking can actually be learned.

2. Clients

You may not have a boss but you’ll definitely be working with clients. It’s impossible to be a freelancer and not have a client, so this is a major factor that can either be a pro or con, depending on you.

Pro: One of the best things about being a freelancer is you can actually pick out your clients. It’s not like a company where your boss will assign a client to you. As a freelancer, you have the power to say yes or no to a project. On this alone, the question, “is being a freelancer worth it?” can be an absolute yes already for those who have trouble with authority figures aka bosses.

Con: If you have trouble talking to clients, this will be tough for you. Also, you have to keep in mind that not all clients are the same. There may come a time when you have 10 potential clients but only one of them will pay you well or will be easy to work with.

3. Niche

When you think of a freelance artist, it’s definitely kind of broad. Just like any other industry, there are niches that freelancers must get into. You need to know your specialization, and once you pinpoint it, you’ll be able to answer the question, is being a freelance artist worth it?

Pro: If you are an artist who specializes in web design or graphic design, it might definitely be worth it to be a freelancer. According to research, web designers and graphic designers are the highest-paid freelancers in 2022.

Con: You have a higher chance of becoming a successful freelance artist if you have a niche. If you have not figured it out yet or you’d rather take on random artist jobs, then you might have a harder time in the freelancing world.

4. Earnings

One of the best ways to determine if being a freelance artist is worth it is based on the money that you make. However, some freelancers forget to also take into account the expenses. What you are really looking for here is the profit that you make.

Pro: As a freelancer, there’s the possibility to earn more than your usual salary. It all depends on your rates, your schedule, and how much work you can take on. That’s the beauty of freelancing, the sky is the limit when it comes to earnings.

Con: Freelancing does not offer steady earnings. One month can go by and you only have a couple of projects or just one client. If you are looking for stability, it is unlikely you will get it right away. It is possible, but you need to really learn how to maximize your time, especially when it comes to project acquisitions or nailing down high-paying or regular clients.

5. Future Goals

Is being a freelance artist worth it can be answered by figuring out what your goal is. Are you simply an artist who doesn’t want to be confined in an office or have to work for somebody else? Or maybe, you are an artist with a bigger plan? Freelancing can be very well worth it if you are working towards a goal that can only be achieved if you don’t have a full-time job eating up your schedule and your energy.

Pro: Just imagine, you are a freelance artist and your goal is to open up your very own stationery shop. it can even be smaller, maybe you just want your own stationery line. You get to create whimsical characters and make up wonderful designs. And you can do all of these things by being a freelance artist. Freelancing gives you a lot of space and energy to focus on your goals.

Con: If you don’t really have a goal in mind, it might not be worth it to do freelancing. You need goals as this can also help you measure your success. It doesn’t have to be big, you can have simple goals for the week or month, such as breaking even with your earnings and expenditures. It is also a goal to maintain your freelancer lifestyle. However, if you are wandering through freelancing aimlessly, it’ll be hard to assess if it is actually worth it to be a freelancer artist.

6. Passion

For some artists, it’s all about passion. Is being a freelance artist worth it?—the instant answer is yes, as long as they get to do what they love to do. It may be a cliche but there is truth to the “starving artist” because really, some people are fine as long as their passions stay alive. And nothing kills passion like a 9-to-5 or having to wear corporate attire.

Pro: Freelance artists are pretty much free to do what they want to do. They can work on their art the way they want. If you have a controlling client, you can simply talk to them about not getting in the way of your creativity. Or you can simply not do the project if you aren’t compatible. Just imagine you can also do your passion project in between projects that pay.

Con: If art is not your passion, then it may not be worth it to do the freelancing route. Why even become an artist if you don’t like art, or rather making art? It is a must for artists to have inspiration and passion when creating. It’s what sets them apart from other artists, it’s what draws clients to hire them. So, if art is not your passion, maybe being a freelance artist or rather an artist is not the right path for you.

So, Is Being a Freelance Artist Worth It?

The honest answer to this question is, it depends on you. Even if you list down all of the pros and cons of being a freelancer artist, the only person who can answer this question is you. It depends on what matters to you the most. For example, if you are getting paid really well for creating social media images but your heart is set on drawing animation, do you think it’s worth it?

The good thing about the question, “is being a freelance artist worth it?” is the answer can change based on what you do. So, if you are unhappy with what you are earning in a month, it may not seem worth it to be a freelancer. But, if you change your rates and get better clients so that you can earn more, then your answer can then be, yes, it’s worth it to be a freelance artist.

Conclusion

Remember that every freelance artist is different. You may see some thriving while others are on the brink of giving up. The point here is, every artist and every freelancer is different. Is being a freelance artist worth it can have different answers depending on who you ask. But the most important thing here is your own answer and no one else’s.

Post written by:

kosmo on October 21, 2022